Reversible suction cleaning tool



Aug. 16, 1955 R. A. PIEPER ET AL REVERSIBLE SUCTION CLEANING TOOL FiledJune 8, 1951 I N VEN TORS Pa 7"/-/ R p/EPEE YEaEE E P/EpEE W WW ATTORNEYUnited States Patent 2,715,245 Patented A g- 1955 nnvnnsrnrn sUcrtoNCLEANING TooL Ruth A. Pieper and George E. Pieper, Milwaukee, Wis.,assignors to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn, a corporationof Delaware Application June 8, 1951, Serial No. 230,464

3 Claims. (Cl. -415) This invention relates to improvements in vacuumcleaner fittings, and more particularly to a novel vacuum cleanerfitting adapted for a cleaning operation in relativeiy inaccessibleplaces.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the type comprisinga relatively flat member having an opening through a fiat side adjacentto one end thereof adapted for cleaning the outer edges of wall to wallcarpeting and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an angular fittingequipped with a reversible end cap which is capable of use within arelatively confined space and under furniture having minimum spacingfrom a surface upon which it rests.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear as thedescription proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective from above of an anguiar form of fittingequipped with a reversible cap in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary inverted plan view of the same; and

Pig. 3 is a view on line 33 of Fig. 2.

deferring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral designates thedevice generally, having a relatively fiat hollow body portionterminating at one end in a shank 12 which is circular in cross sectionin order that the suction tool may be connected to a vacuum cleanerhose. The fiat body portion is comprised of a pair of relatively widewalls 113 and 11 joined by a pair of narrower walls 14 and i6, and thusis generally rectangular in cross section. Intermediate of its ends thetool has a curved portion 18 whereby one end is disposed at an anglewith respect to the other end, preferably substantially at right angles.The wide walls 10 and 11 are in planes normal to the axis about whichthe portion 18 is curved.

The flat end of the tool, that is the end opposite to the circular shank12, is provided with a pivoted cap member 22. The cap 22 has angularlydisposed wall portions 24 and 25 of a Width substantially equal to thatof the wider walls 16 and 11. Extending from the sides of wall portions24 and 25 are reversely tapered side skirt portions 26 and 27, thecenters of which are pivoted by rivet means 28 on the narrower walls 14and 16 of body 26". The end edges 29 and 39 are complementarily formedto rest against the body portion 20 when in operative position tosubstantially prevent the leakage of air therebetween. It will be notedthat the member 20 has a vertical end opening as at 33 thereof, but theuse of the cap in either of its limit positions presents a downwardopening to the surface to be cleaned, which opening is in the plane ofeither of the wider walls 10 or 11.

In use of the angular tool 20, it will be seen that the same may beeasily inserted Within a relatively narrow opening close to the floor orother surface, and the reversible cap will facilitate use of the tool inand around a corner to the left or right as may be necessary.

It will be understood that the device is capable of many modificationsin structure and design, without departing from the spirit of theinvention, within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a reversible suction cleaning tool, an elongated hollow bodyformed with an inlet opening at one end and with an outlet opening atthe other end, said body being curved between said ends so that one endis angularly oifset relative to the other end, the part of said bodyadjacent to said inlet opening having a substantially rectangularcross-section with one pair of side walls normal to the axis about whichsaid body is curved, a member having a wall portion and side skirtportions, and means for pivoting said skirt portions to the other pairof side walls of said body closely adjacent to said inlet opening, saidmember being pivoted about the end of said body to selectively provide anozzle opening extending from and substantially in the plane of eitherof the walls of said one pair of said walls.

2. In a reversible suction cleaning tool, an elongated hollow bodyformed with an inlet opening at one end and with an outlet opening atthe other end, said body being curved between said ends so that one endis angularly ofiset relative to the other end, the part of said bodyadjacent to said inlet opening having a substantially rectmgularcross-section with the wider sides normal to the axis about which saidbody is curved, a member having angularly disposed wall portions andside skirt portions, each of said skirt portions being tapered from thecenter towards each end thereof, and means for pivoting said skirtportions to the narrower sides of said body closely adjacent to saidinlet opening, said member being pivotal about the end of said body toselectively provide a nozzle opening extending from and substantially inthe plane of either of said wider sides.

3. In a reversible suction cleaning tool, an elongated hollow bodyformed with an inlet opening at one end and with an outlet opening atthe other end, said body being curved between said ends so that one endis angularly offset relative to the other end, the part of said bodyadjacent to said inlet opening having a substantially rectangularcross-section with the wider sides normal to the axis about which saidbody is curved, a member having angularly disposed wall portions andSide skirt portions, said wall portions being of substantially the samewidth as said wider sides and each or" said skirt portions being taperedfrom the center towards each end thereof, and means for pivoting thecenters of said skirt portions to the narrower sides or" said bodyclosely adjacent to said inlet opening, said member being pivotal aboutthe end of said body to selectively provide a nozzle opening extendingfrom and substantially in the plane of either of said wider sides.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS986,245 Thurman Mar. 7, 1911 1,053,665 Spencer Feb. 18, 1913 1,403,524Replogle Ian. 17, 1922 2,212,942 Karlstrom Aug. 27, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS42,318 Switzerland Mar. 21, 1908

